Field Testers Needed - Medicines and Me

I received the following information via e-mail and wanted to pass this on to you if you were interested.

The Life Sciences Learning Center at the University of Rochester has developed a series of Medicines and Me lessons that focus on the safe use of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and dietary supplements. These lessons are designed to incorporate medicine safety education into middle school life science, biology, health, or family and consumer science classrooms.

We are seeking grade 7-10 teachers who are willing to field test one of these Medicines and Me lessons with their students:

A Family Medicine Cabinet   

Students use information from a brief reading to classify labels and compare prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, and dietary supplements.  They learn that scientific testing is an important part of determining that drugs are safe and effective.  Estimated time = 2 forty minute class periods

Choosing and Using Medicines Safely    

Students analyze mini-cases and Drug Facts labels to determine which over-the-counter medicines patients should use and how to use them safely.   Estimated time = 2 forty minute class periods

Cold, Flu, or Allergy?    

Students conduct simulated flu tests to determine whether patients have the flu or not.  Product labels are used to select the medicines appropriate for patients with the flu, the common cold, or allergies.  Estimated time = 2 forty minute class periods

Field test teachers will be asked to:

• Make copies of the student handout, pre-test, and post-test for their students
• Administer a brief pre-test (10-15 questions) for the lesson to their students
• Use the lesson with their students
• Administer a post-test for the lesson to their students
• Match the pre-test and post-test answer sheets
• Complete a lesson evaluation survey
• Provide written feedback with suggestions for improving the lesson activities, the student instructions, and the teacher guide
• Provide 3 samples of student work for the lesson

Field test teachers will be provided with instructions and free supplies needed to complete one Medicines and Me lesson with their students.  Field testing will take place between October 15 and May 1.

A stipend of $100 will be provided for teachers who return matched pre/post-test answer sheets, a lesson evaluation survey, annotated teacher information and student handouts, and samples of student work.  All field testing data must be returned no later than May 1.

Here is a link to the online application:    https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/fieldtestMM

Please complete the application by September 20.  Field test teachers will be selected by September 30.  Lesson materials will be shipped to field test teachers by October 15.

Get to know your students with Padlet

I have never really done a get to know you activity with my students because my school is small.  The kids have been together since Kindergarten and by the time they are in middle and high school I figured that they knew everything there is to know about each other.  This year I am trying something new and, of course, I am using technology to help me out with it.  I've decided to have each student share one fact about them that most people don't know.  To do this, I created a Padlet board for each of my classes.  Padlet is basically an online builtin board.  You share the link with others and they an add text, videos and images to the board.  Neither you or the people you share your board with need an account, but I find it help to have one as the teacher.  Padlet gives you the ability to choose a background image and set other preferences to customize what your board looks like.



Once students have all submitted their facts about themselves, I am going to have the students try to guess who they think each fact belongs to.  I'm still trying to think of a fun way to do that part, but I would love any suggestions that you have!

This post is cross posted on my technology blog The Tech Savvy Science Teacher.